Help
Which one to start with?
I hear he is a really good author and his books are great, but there are so many, and I don't have a clue where to begin, or whether I should....
Help?
If I were to read a book by Gemmell....
#1
QuickTidal 
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Posted 10 December 2005 - 03:26 PM
"When the last tree has fallen, and the rivers are poisoned, you cannot eat money, oh no." ~Aurora
"Someone will always try to sell you despair, just so they don't feel alone." ~Ursula Vernon
"Someone will always try to sell you despair, just so they don't feel alone." ~Ursula Vernon
#2
dktorode
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Posted 10 December 2005 - 04:57 PM
Listen buddy just go to the very beginning of it all and start with "Legend"
Work your way up i say!
Legend is his first but arguably his best.
Its a real classic!
Work your way up i say!
Legend is his first but arguably his best.
Its a real classic!
...┌∩┐(◣_◢)┌∩┐...
Why dont they make the whole plane out of that black box stuff?
Why dont they make the whole plane out of that black box stuff?
#3
Paran
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Posted 10 December 2005 - 05:08 PM
I would agree on starting with Legend. It is not his best (I still believe either Lion of Macedon is) but it is a good beginning to a style he has mastered.
"The harder the world, the fiercer the honour" - Dancer
#4 Guest_Fool_*
Posted 10 December 2005 - 05:20 PM
If you think jordan is a kids writer i doubt youll like gemmell much better.
#5
QuickTidal
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Posted 10 December 2005 - 06:12 PM
Fool said:
If you think jordan is a kids writer i doubt youll like gemmell much better.
Really? That's interesting. I am always wondering if I am going to think that when I pick up a new fantasy series. Good to know though.
I am really lost as to what else to read. Haven't tried this Bakker though, I've seen the book but haven't read any.
"When the last tree has fallen, and the rivers are poisoned, you cannot eat money, oh no." ~Aurora
"Someone will always try to sell you despair, just so they don't feel alone." ~Ursula Vernon
"Someone will always try to sell you despair, just so they don't feel alone." ~Ursula Vernon
#6
werewolfv2
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Posted 10 December 2005 - 07:13 PM
Gemmell is fun, I vote for starting at legend
#7
QuickTidal
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Posted 10 December 2005 - 07:20 PM
werewolfv2 said:
Gemmell is fun, I vote for starting at legend
Yeah, but if he is like Jordan at all, I am not gonna like it.
"When the last tree has fallen, and the rivers are poisoned, you cannot eat money, oh no." ~Aurora
"Someone will always try to sell you despair, just so they don't feel alone." ~Ursula Vernon
"Someone will always try to sell you despair, just so they don't feel alone." ~Ursula Vernon
#8
werewolfv2
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Posted 10 December 2005 - 08:44 PM
QuickTidal said:
Yeah, but if he is like Jordan at all, I am not gonna like it.
I wouldnt state that they have much in common other than they write fantasy.
#9
Roland
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Posted 10 December 2005 - 08:59 PM
Gemmel writes fantasy-buble gum the same way Salvatore does. But he is MUCH more mature, intelligent, his language is far richer and his style - far better. I loved every page of Legend and The King Beyond the Gate (teh second in the Drenai Cycle after Legend) and NO - I'm NOT a Jordan fan 
So, if this is enough of an answer for you...
So, if this is enough of an answer for you...
#10 Guest_Fool_*
Posted 10 December 2005 - 08:59 PM
I only managed to read half of legend before i gave up (and i rarely give up on books).
Seemed very shallow and formulaic.
Seemed very shallow and formulaic.
#11
RodeoRanch
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Posted 11 December 2005 - 12:23 AM
I quite enjoyed the Rigante series.
#12
dktorode
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Posted 11 December 2005 - 12:09 PM
Fool said:
I only managed to read half of legend before i gave up (and i rarely give up on books).
Seemed very shallow and formulaic.
Seemed very shallow and formulaic.
Shame on you:hand: the book is a real page turner! and Gemmel's writting is better than most (he's a Legend:D ), you probably pulled the same move as most people who read SE's stuff(not putting in same category mind U!) and gave up before the goodie real meat of the story arrived!
I loved Legend it's well written and def isn't a hackneyed storyline!
It is quite origonal IMO and is well worth the read.
It is also considered to be one of the classic's!
It isn't comparable to Jordan at all and it is an easy read but thats what makes some books so good sometimes.
I'm not a die hard Gemmel fan or anything but i think its well worth the read. His stuff is really good.
So give it a read!.. if you dont like it you can b**ch slap me the next time we meet:rolleyes:
...┌∩┐(◣_◢)┌∩┐...
Why dont they make the whole plane out of that black box stuff?
Why dont they make the whole plane out of that black box stuff?
#13 Guest_Fool_*
Posted 11 December 2005 - 05:55 PM
I got to a part where druss is telling an officer to give like fancy names to his regiments and the officer was like "why cant we just call them regiment 1, regiment 2, regiment 3?"
Just made it seem like gemmell's assuming his readers are idiots because he's spelling EVERYTHING out.
Just made it seem like gemmell's assuming his readers are idiots because he's spelling EVERYTHING out.
#14
dktorode
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Posted 11 December 2005 - 06:41 PM
True!
Well as i said, not a huge fan but the book is still worth the read!
Well as i said, not a huge fan but the book is still worth the read!
...┌∩┐(◣_◢)┌∩┐...
Why dont they make the whole plane out of that black box stuff?
Why dont they make the whole plane out of that black box stuff?
#15
Brys
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Posted 11 December 2005 - 08:27 PM
To tell you the truth, only read Gemmell if you've got lots of spare time. He's not a bad author - far from it, in fact. But he's not a great author either. If you can find the Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser tales by Fritz Leiber or the Tales of the Dying Earth by Jack Vance, they're far better. Gemmell's the more popular author as he's still publishing books (Leiber died in 1992), but really no match for these two in quality.
If you are going to read Gemmell, I'd suggest Legend, as it's pretty representative of his style. But the subgenre (Sword and Sorcery) is at its best with Leiber, Vance and others from the earlier period of fantasy.
"If you think jordan is a kids writer i doubt youll like gemmell much better."
I'd agree with that. But Leiber and Vance on this scale would certainly qualify as adult authors (not in terms of sex, violence etc, but in terms of maturity of writing and intelligent themes addressed). The real problem at the moment is that most people believe Gemmell's the only author in this subgenre, which isn't true, and the far better authors of the past are forgotten. And of course, Leiber and Vance had some influence on Erikson, either direct or indirect, but it's noticeably there.
BTW this is aimed at all Gemmell fans!
If you are going to read Gemmell, I'd suggest Legend, as it's pretty representative of his style. But the subgenre (Sword and Sorcery) is at its best with Leiber, Vance and others from the earlier period of fantasy.
"If you think jordan is a kids writer i doubt youll like gemmell much better."
I'd agree with that. But Leiber and Vance on this scale would certainly qualify as adult authors (not in terms of sex, violence etc, but in terms of maturity of writing and intelligent themes addressed). The real problem at the moment is that most people believe Gemmell's the only author in this subgenre, which isn't true, and the far better authors of the past are forgotten. And of course, Leiber and Vance had some influence on Erikson, either direct or indirect, but it's noticeably there.
BTW this is aimed at all Gemmell fans!
#16
QuickTidal
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Posted 11 December 2005 - 11:46 PM
I'm leaning towards trying out Bakker instead....and there seems to be ample good praise of his work!
"When the last tree has fallen, and the rivers are poisoned, you cannot eat money, oh no." ~Aurora
"Someone will always try to sell you despair, just so they don't feel alone." ~Ursula Vernon
"Someone will always try to sell you despair, just so they don't feel alone." ~Ursula Vernon
#17
Valgard
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Posted 13 December 2005 - 02:13 PM
Bakker is great I would recommend him. I do really suggest reading gemell though he is an excellent person to read between huge and complex books if you are looking for something well written but not to taxing and his book are great fun. Druss is one of the most iconic characters of any series I have read. If you are going to read gemell read legend first in my view his best work.
#18
Paran
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Posted 13 December 2005 - 03:59 PM
Look, it depends what you're looking for. Bakker is a great writer, but his work is very involving and consuming, so expect to think hard and invest a lot into it. If you're looking for a fun read (adventure, emotion, battles, etc) then Gemmell will give you entertainment without requiring your undivided attention.
"The harder the world, the fiercer the honour" - Dancer
#19
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Posted 13 December 2005 - 05:48 PM
Bakker is great as well - one of the top 3 writing in the subgenre at the moment, and he's also the first to complete a decent epic fantasy series for quite a while.
I'd say Leiber can amply do what Gemmell does (provide entertainment without much thought) while at the same time doing as much as someone like Bakker.
I'd say Leiber can amply do what Gemmell does (provide entertainment without much thought) while at the same time doing as much as someone like Bakker.
#20 Guest_neal_*
Posted 14 December 2005 - 08:33 AM
Gemmell's writing is not taxing precisely because he is a very good and very professional writer. When a book is 'taxing' many naive people make the mistake of thinking it is worthwhile and ultimately rewarding when very often it is simply pretentious. I hasten to add that I'm not pointing the finger at Bakker here. Just don't make the mistake of assuming that something easy to read is 'literature lite'.
